Adjustable antenna



July 19, 1949. WALKER 2,476,469

ADJUSTABLE ANTENNA Filed April 30, 1945 3 Sheets-Sheet -l INVENTOR.

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y 19, 1949- J. B. WALKER 2,476,469

ADJUSTABLE ANTENNA Filed April 30, 1945 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 TO ANTENNA TELEVISION RECEIVER 46 47:55 m U [I INVENTOR. T M55594 5. MAKER BY M m 4 l ,47-raQM5 Y5.

July 19, 1949. -J. B. WALKER 2,476,469

ADJUSTABLE ANTENNA Filed April 30, 1945 s Sheets-Sheet s Q I i ga L 7 1 5 j 51 55 50 51 52 5g Z L 54 54 .57 .53 .53 .57

Jim. 4.

INVEN 10R. Jase/2H5 MAKER,

WW 4* WM Patented July 19, 1949 UNITED STATES PATENT .1 Claim.

This invention relates to adjustable antennas having particular application to television receiving sets, and contemplates more specifically rotatable and extensible antenna and director or reflector assemblies, in combination with means for controlling the adjustment of the same.

A common form of television antenna proved to be satisfactory under most conditions is a horizontal half-wave dipole which is of a length slightly less than one-half wave length of the radiation to be received. It has been found that such an antenna should be arranged broadside to the transmitter, i. e., with the antenna axis forming a right angle with the direction from which the signals radiate.

Reflection of the signal often results in distortion or blurring of the image or in production of ghost pictures. The solution of such problems occasionally necessitates variations in the prescribed formula of antenna adjustment, which are peculiar to specific installations; but in general the desirability of the above-indicated arrangement and construction has been well established. In the art prior to my invention it is necessary, therefore, that a skilled engineer be employed to install receiver antennas in order to overcome objectionable reflective conditions encountered at the point of intended reception. It will therefore be appreciated that in adapting television antenna assemblies for the reception of signals of different wave lengths, transmitted from difierent directions, these difficulties are multiplied many-fold, and that, as a result, conventional antenna apparatus is inadequate.

It is a principal object of the present invention to provide an extensible dipole antenna which may be controlled at the receiving set for critically adjusting its length for most favorable reception of any of a plurality of signals emanating from difierent transmitters, operating on different wave lengths.

Another object is to provide an antenna assembly comprising one or more extensible dipole antennas with complementary directors or reflectors, rotatable in fixed relationship as a unit whereby the antennas may be arranged angularly with respect to the radiation from the transmitter for most effective utility.

Another object is the provision in an extensible and rotatable antenna assembly of mechanism whereby the extension and rotation thereof may be independently efiected and controlled, in combination with signal means, associated with the receiving set, for visibly or audibly indicating the adjustment.

Numerous objects and corresponding advan= tages, such, for example, as simplicity of construction, economy of manufacture, facility in obtaining tuning perfection by enabling adjustments to compensate for distortion or blurring of the image due to reflection and related infiue ences, will be apparent from an examination of the following description read in the light of the accompanying drawings in which:

Figfl is a view in plan and section of an an: tenna and director or reflector assembly, embodying one feature of my invention;

Fig. 2 is a view in section and elevation of the assembly depicted in Fig. 1, taken on lines 2.-..-2

of :Fig. 1, and illustrating particularly the means by which the antenna and reflector may be rethe numerals of which indicate similar parts throughout the several views, 6 designates a vere tically-disposedreceivingeantenna tubular sup: port which-may be of any required length and is adapted for disposition on a roof top or other mounting favorable to the reception of television signals emanating from several transmitters with which the receiving set is to be selectively tuned. Support 6 is iournalled in one or more bearings, of which bearing 1 is illustrative, to permit its rotary motion in response to motiva, tion by means about to be described. A spur ring gear 8 is keyed 01' secured by welding or the like to the lower end of tubular support 6, and is driven by a pinion 9 rotated at a slow speed by a reversing-motor I0 through reduction gearing, generally indicated at H. Motor I0 is connected with a source of electric power through wires l2 and controlled by switches of the type hereinafter described. At the upper end of support 8 a gear housing [3, composed of plastic or other dielectric material, is rigidly secured. Oppositel-y projecting horizontal branches M of the" by the retainers to insulate them from one another, and the pair of reflector elements H are rigidly mounted in spaced, parallel relation with the antenna elements Hi, the distance between antenna and reflector being predetermined by the length of branches l4 to be most suitable for greatest utility of the reflector. Each tube I6 and I1 houses in telescopic relation a sliding tube l8 which is adapted to be extended and contracted in unison with the other. sliding tubes |8 by means about to'be described. To this end, a shaft l9 extends through the tubular support 6 and carries a spur gear 20 on its lower end. Ro-

tary motion is imparted to gear 20 and shaft l9 from a reversing motor 2| through reduction gearing 22 and a pinion 23. The-upper end of shaft |9 terminates in gear housing l3 and isprovided with a miter gear 24 with which a second miter gear 25, keyed upon a horizontal shaft 26 suitably journalled in the housing, is in mesh.

Shaft 26 projects through the oppositely-disposed branches I 4 of the housing, with the ends thereof extending into the tubular retainers |5, respectively. Each end of the shaft carries a pinion 21 which is operatively engaged with a pair of gear racks 28, composed of plastic or other suitable dielectric, extending longitudinally throughretainers above and below pinion 21. Racks 28' in each retainer are connected to the slidingv antenna and reflector tubes l8, respectively, whereby rotation of the pinions 21 imparted from the vertical shaft l9 through gears 24 and 25 and'the horizontal shaft 26 is effective to extend or contract the telescopic-assemblies;

The coaxially aligned antenna tubes I 6 are provided with spring contacts 29 on their outer ends which are operable to bear radially against the sliding tubes l8 telescopically associated there'- by the numeral 48.

with. Thus, each electrically connected tube assembly Iii-l8 comprises one pole of a dipole antenna. The respective poles are connected to the receiver in a conventional manner not illustrated, e. g. by a coaxial cable, by twisted wires, or in parallel, as will be understood by those of skill in the art. It will be appreciated that the other dual tube assembly'functions either as a director (projector) or reflector, depending upon its disposition with respect to the antenna and transmitter from which radiations are being received. It will thus be seen. that by energization of motor 2| in one direction the outer 'antenna and director tubes may be projected outwardly to the ends of their telescopic movement,

and that by reversing the motor the antenna and reflector assemblies may be contracted, enabling prompt mechanical adjustment in the ratio between the length of the antenna and the wave length of the transmitter from which radiations are to be received. By rotating tubular support 6, incident to energization of motor It, the antenna and reflector or director assemblies may be positioned broadside to any of several transmitters, i. e., at right angles to the direction of radiation received from any transmitters within the range of the receiver.

The wiring and control ofeach motor l0 and 2| may be accomplished by separate identical mechanism, incorporating a visual indicator, about to be described. The control device for the mechanism and the indicator is preferably assembled with the receiver unit adjacent the viewing-screen (not shown).

As hereinabove indicated, the motor 2| is of the reversing type and has associated therewith a magnetic control switch, comprising a pair of,

magnets 30 and 3| adapted upon alternate energization to tilt a pivoted contact lever 32 into electrical engagement with two series of contacts 33, respectively, connected to the windings of the motor and source of electricity, as will be obvious to those of skill in the art without specific description. It will sufiice to point out that with neither of magnets 30 or 3| energized, the contact lever 32 will assume a neutral position in response to, the equal tension of a pair of springs 34,- and accordingly all electrical circuits to the motor will remain open. One Wire 35 of each magnet 38 and 3| is connected to a source of current. The other wires 36 and 31 of the magnets 30 and 3| are connected, respectively, to normally-closed cut-out switches 38 and 39 which are arranged in series with dififerent terminals of a manually-operated switch indicated A third wire 4| connected to switch 4|] is connected to the source of current for completion of the dual circuits. It will be observed that with both of the cut-out switches 38 and 339 closed the circuits through either'magnet 33 and 3| may be closed by actuation in an obvious manner of the manually-controlled switch 49. For example, by turning switch 4|) to close the circuit through magnet 3| and cut-out switch 39, motor 2| will be energized to turn'shaft l9 in one direction so as to extend the antenna and director or reflector tubes I8 outwardly. Upon reaching the desired degree of extension, the adjustment of tubes |8 may be maintained by again opening the switch, whereupon the circuit through motor 2| is broken by springs 34, returning the .contact lever 32 to a neutral inoperative position. Contraction of the antenna and director may be effected in a like manner by closing the circuit through magnet 30 and cut-out switch 38 which is effective to close the motor circuit through the opposite windings of motor 2| and reverse the direction of rotation of the antenna and reflector activating mechanism. The cut-out switches 38 and 39 are automatically actuated to open the closed circuit through the energized magnets 30 and 3| whenever the antenna assembly reaches the corresponding end of its telescopic movement without switch 40 having been opened manually, to prevent injury to the antenna and reflector mechanism. To this end, I provide a spur wheel 42 carried on a shaft 43 journalled in suitable bearings 44 above cut-out switches 38 and 39. Wheel 42 is formed with gear teeth on its periphery which are in mesh with the gear 20 carried by the end of shaft l9.

On the underside of wheel 42 are a pair of pins 45 spaced apart radially and offset circumferentially several degrees. Each pin 45 is positioned to contact the switch 38 and 39 located in its arc of movement whenever the tubes l8 reach the end of its telescopic movement activated by the closin of the circuit in which said cutout switch is arranged. It will thus be seen that with the pins 45 spaced circumferentially but a few degrees, the'wheel 42 will have a range of movement equal to nearly a full revolution which corresponds with the movement of tubes I8 from fully extended to fully contracted position. Thus, by actuating switch 40 to close the circuit through magnet 30 and switch 38, the motor will be energized to shift the antenna and director assemblies in a direction depending upon windings of the motor 2|, and such movement will be continued, if the operator permits switch 40 to remain closed, until the wheel 42 is rotated to a degree causing one of pins 45 to engage and open switch 38, whereupon magnet 30 will be de-energized and the motor stopped. This will occur when the antenna reaches the end of'the movement imparted by motor 2| when energized through the reversing switch contacts 33 controlled by magnet 3!). Reverse movement of the telescoping antennaanddirector elements may be efiected by throwing switch 40 to close the circuit through the magnet 3! and switch 39. As hereinabove indicated, movement of the antenna elements in the reverse direction may be stopped at any time in intermediate position byreturning switch 40 to a neutral position so as to open the circuit through the energized magnet. In the event the operator fails to open switch 49, cut-out switch 39 will be opened by the pin 45 of thewheel, as hereinabove described with reference to cut-out switch 38 when the-limit of the antenna movement in that direction hasbeen reached.

In order that the operator may determine the degree of extension of the antenna and reflector atall times, I provide a visual indicator adapted for association with the receiver unit comprising a'panel 46 having a series of windows 41, carrying symbols or legends indicating different transmitters with which the receiver may be tuned. A lamp (not shown) located behind each window 47 in the panel is electrically energized through a separate circuit controlled by an individual normally-open switch 48. Thus, if there are five transmitting stations within the range of the receiver, five of the windows in the panel will be equipped for illumination controlled by five separate switches 48 which are located beneath the spur wheel 42, each in a position to be actuated, by a pin 49 depending from the wheel, coincident with the degree of contraction or extension of the antenna and reflector assemblies appropriate to most favorable reception of the radiation from the transmitter indicated by the legend on the window adapted for illumination by the lamp controlled by the switch. Accordingly, the switches 48 are all arranged in an are having a center on the axis of the wheel, whereby the pin 49 will contact and close said switches successively as the appropriate antenna adjustment is eiiected, in response to the operation of the reversing motor 2|, as hereinabove described.

The wiring of the reversing motor ID by which the entire antenna unit is turned is preferably identical with that above described and illustrated in Fig. 3 of the drawing for motor 2| and an indicating means similar to the lamp and switch assembly referred to may be provided to facilitate the desired rotary adjustment of the antenna assembly.

In Fig. 4 I have illustrated another embodiment of telescoping antenna and reflector unit, comprising a housing l3 in which the miter gears 24 and 25 are enclosed. Each lateral branch M of the housing is formed with a pair of integral diametrically-opposed flanged retainers 56 on which are secured end rings 5| of conical antenna and reflector assemblies, about to be described. The ends of a plurality of reinforcing antenna rods 52 are secured in spaced relation to each of rings 51 The rods diverge outwardly for connection at their outer ends to a ring 53 of greater diameter. A plurality of wires 54, having their ends soldered or otherwise secured to the rings 5! and 53, respectively, supplement rods 52 as a means for receiving transmitted television signals. A pair of gear racks 55, composed of dielectric material, slidably extend through each pair of aligned lateral retainers '50 .of the housing for operative engagement with theupper and lower arcs of the adjacent pinion 21. Telescopically received within .eachantenna and reflector cone assembly described'is areciprocable cone assembiy, comprising an inner ring 56 and a larger outer ring 5? connected by diverging reinforcing rods58 and interposedwiresfifi. A'third reinforcing ring fill, intermediate and parallel with rings 5% and 5?, is provided for a purpose about to be described. Each ear rack 55 is formed with an integral toothless extension 6!, and the extensions of each pair of antenna and reflector gear racks 55 project in opposite directions into respective inner cones, where they are attached to the inner and intermediate rings 55 and 66 of the reciprocable cone assemblies, respectively, to actuate and. afford support'for the latter and thereby maintain the telescopically associated antenna and reflector units in coaxial alignment. As hereinabove indicated, the rods 58 and wires 55 of each reciprocable antenna cone are connected electrically to the intermediate ring iii! thereof, which is in turn connected to the outer ring 53 of the antenna cone with which the reciprocable cone is telescopically associated. The lead wires (not shown) from the antennato the receiving set are connectedtothe innermost rings 5i of the respective poles of the antenna and may extend downwardly inside or outside of the 'support 6 in any desired relationship for connection to the set.

It will thus be seen that, as in the embodiment of Figs. 1-3, the housing l3 insulates the respective antenna and. reflector cones from one another, and the gear racks 55, being composed of a dielectric material, preserve the insulating effect of the housing. The operation of the apparatus of the embodiment of Fig. 4 is substantially the same as that described forthe tubular antenna and reflector structure of Fig. 1. The entire antenna and reflector unit is turned in response to actuation of motor ID to form the preferred angle of usually between the axes of the coaxially-aligned reflector and antenna units with the line of direction of the radiations from the transmitter to which the set is desired to be tuned. The reciprocable antenna and reflector cones, supported in coaxial alignment with the inner cones connected to the housing, are actuated by gear racks 55, lateral movement of which is resisted by the pinions 21 and the bore of retainers 50 through which they extend, respectively. With the ends of rods 58 secured to the rings 56 and 51 of the outermost antenna and reflector cones, the latter are reciprocated to telescopically extend or contract, selectively, the dipole antenna and reflector in accordance with the operation of the drive mechanism activated by motor M as hereinabove described. It will be understood that the rotary control and indicator mechanism may be identical to that described in connection with the embodiment of Figs. 1-3 inclusive.

It will thus be seen that I have provided a rotatable and extensible dipole antenna and refiector or director assembly adapted for television receivers, permitting adjustment to enable most favorable reception of signals radiated from any of a plurality of transmitters within the range of the receiver regardless of the direction from which the signals are transmitted or the wave lengths upon which the respective transmitters operate, in combination with electrical mechanism for controlling, with facility,

and coincidentally indicating the adjustment.

It will be understood that while I have illustrated and described but two embodiments of the antenna and director assembly with a single control and indicator by which each of the principal adjustments are accomplished, numerous changes in size, design, shape and number of the various parts may be made, and, particularly, antennas or reflectors other than the type specifically alluded to may be substituted for those shown, and further that various apparatus for effecting the desired adjustments may be utilized, and that the visual indicator is merely illustrative of various conventional devices which ma be employed in lieu thereof, all without departing from the spirit of my invention as defined in the appended claim.

WhatI claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

In television equipment of the character described, an antenna comprising telescopically extensible and contractible sections, a vertical shaft rotatably supporting said antenna, a motor to rotate said shaft and antenna, power transmission mechanism comprising a shaft coaxially related with said first-named shaft for extending and contracting said antenna, a motor to actuate said power transmission mechanism, a television receiving unit connected to said antenna comprising means to translate signals received' by, said antenna into visual reproductions thereof, and separate controls for said motors both" located adjacent said receiving unit to selectively.

energize said motors and thereby selectively extend and contract or rotate said antenna, said controls being in such proximity to said receiving unit that the results of such adjustments of said antenna may be observed in the visual reproductions of such signals coincident with said adjustments.

JOSEPH B. WALKER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

